Aims and Scope

Over the past few decades, commercial lithium-ion batteries have become the cornerstone of modern portable electronics and electric vehicles. However, state-of-the-art systems relying on graphite anodes and lithium transition metal oxide cathodes are increasingly unable to meet the growing demands for higher energy density and improved safety. In response, next-generation lithium-based systems—such as lithium metal batteries and lithium-chalcogen batteries—have emerged as promising candidates to power long-range electric vehicles and next-generation ultra-lightweight electronics. In recent years, significant research efforts have been focused on overcoming the challenges associated with these high-energy systems, particularly in terms of cycling stability, energy density improvement, and safety enhancement.

As part of this global endeavor, we are pleased to announce a new Special Issue entitled “Lithium batteries and beyond with high energy density and enhanced safety” which aims to compile cutting-edge advances and serve as a timely reference for researchers and engineers in the field.

This Special Issue will provide an international platform for researchers to share original work and critical reviews on topics related to advanced lithium batteries and post-lithium technologies. We welcome contributions that explore novel materials, electrode architectures, electrolyte design, interface engineering, failure analysis, safety evaluation, and device integration—especially those aligned with the scope of Energy Materials and Devices, which emphasizes fundamental research, technological innovation, and industrial application in the energy materials and devices field.

Authors are encouraged to submit original research articles and review papers that will foster scholarly exchange and inspire future innovations within the energy storage community.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• High-performance electrode materials
• Solid-state lithium-ion electrolytes
• Characterization techniques for electrode interfaces
• Next-generation batteries such as lithium metal batteries and lithium–chalcogen batteries, etc.
• Novel liquid electrolytes such as ionic-liquid based electrolytes, deep eutectic electrolytes, etc.

Article types

Research Article: full-length original articles which report research developments on lithium batteries beyond with high energy density and enhanced safety.

Review: review articles which inform readers of the latest research and advances in lithium batteries beyond with high energy density and enhanced safety.

Submission

Preferred deadline: June 30, 2026

Online submission: https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/emd

Guidelines for authors: https://www.sciopen.com/journal/join_journal/submission_guidelines?id=1663090367047270401&issn=3005-3315

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Weiqing Yang

• mail: wqyang@swjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Frontier Science, Southwest Jiaotong University

Research interest: Energy storage devices, such as supercapacitor and lithium battery, mechanical design and automation, nano energy material and integrated microelectronics devices, optoelectronic materials and devices.

Dr. Panpan Dong

E-mail: panpan.dong@swjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: Research Institute of Frontier Science, Southwest Jiaotong University

Research interest: Advanced materials and energy storage technology, solid-state lithium batteries, metal-organic frameworks, electrolyte engineering.

Dr. Xuewei Fu

• mail: fu@scu.edu.cn

Affiliation: College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University

Research interest: Polymeric energy materials encompasses multi-scale structural design, interface engineering, and the processing of advanced energy storage devices, specializing in polymer electrolytes, high-performance electrode binders, and electrode microenvironment control.